Translation and Meaning of: 人 - jin

The Japanese word 人[じん] is one of the most fundamental and versatile terms in the language. Its basic meaning refers to "person" or "human being," but its usage goes much further, appearing in everyday expressions, country names, and even philosophical concepts. In this article, we will explore its origin and how it fits into Japanese culture, along with practical tips for those learning the language.

If you have already studied Japanese, you have probably encountered 人[じん] in different contexts. It can be combined with other kanji to form words like 日本人 (nihonjin - Japanese) or 外国人 (gaikokujin - foreigner). Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to uncover not only the meaning but also the cultural and grammatical details that make this word a key piece in the Japanese vocabulary.

Meaning and usage of 人[じん]

The kanji 人, read as じん (jin) in certain combinations, represents the idea of person, individual, or humanity. Unlike the reading ひと (hito), which is more generic, じん usually appears in compound words, especially to indicate nationality or groups of people. For example, アメリカ人 (amerikajin) means "American," while 社会人 (shakaijin) refers to a "member of society" or "professional."

An interesting characteristic is that じん is not limited to humans. In terms like 宇宙人 (uchūjin - alien), it expands its meaning to include any intelligent being. This usage reflects how the Japanese language can be flexible, adapting a basic concept to various contexts, from everyday life to science fiction.

Origin and writing of the kanji 人

The kanji 人 has a history that dates back to ancient China, where its original form represented a human being in profile. Over time, this pictographic representation evolved into the simplified strokes we use today. In Japan, it was incorporated into the writing system and gained multiple readings, including じん (jin), にん (nin), and ひと (hito).

Interestingly, 人 is one of the first kanjis that students learn, precisely because of its simplicity and frequency. It appears in over 1,300 words in the dictionary, according to Kanjipedia, one of the most reliable databases on Japanese characters. Its radical (the part that indicates meaning) is itself, which makes it easier to memorize for beginners.

Tips for memorizing and using 人[じん]

An effective way to remember 人[じん] is to associate it with words that are already part of your vocabulary. For example, if you know that 日本 (Nihon) means "Japan," it's easy to remember that 日本人 (Nihonjin) is "Japanese." This pattern repeats in various nationalities, such as フランス人 (Furansujin - French) or 中国人 (Chūgokujin - Chinese).

Another tip is to pay attention to the context. While じん appears more in compound terms, ひと is used alone or in informal expressions. A common mistake among beginners is saying じん when referring to a specific person, such as in *あのじんは優しい (ano jin wa yasashii). The correct form would be あの人は優しい (ano hito wa yasashii), since じん does not function as a standalone noun in these cases.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 者 (sha) - Person, someone, usually used in formal or legal contexts.
• 男女 (danjo) - Men and women; refers to both sexes.
• 人間 (ningen) - Human being, the condition of being human, emphasizing the nature and essence of humanity.
• 人物 (jinbutsu) - Character or person, focus on individual or notable characteristics.
• 人類 (jinrui) - Humanity refers to the entirety of the human species.

人

Romaji: jin
Kana: じん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: man; person; guys

Meaning in English: man;person;people

Definition: human. A type of living being that has reason and emotions, and that shapes society and culture.

Example Sentences - (人) jin

See below some example sentences:

しつこい人は嫌われる。

Shitsukoi hito wa kirawareru

Persistent people are hated.

I hate persistent people.

• しつこい - adjective meaning persistent, insistent
• 人 - noun meaning person
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "persistent people"
• 嫌われる - verb in the passive form meaning to be hated, to be detested

その人は怪しいです。

Sono hito wa ayashii desu

This person is suspicious.

This person is suspicious.

• その人 - That person.
• は - Particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "that person".
• 怪しい - Adjective that means "suspicious" or "strange".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and polite form.

たった一人で山に登った。

Tatta hitori de yama ni nobotta

I climbed the mountain alone.

I climbed the mountain alone.

• たった - adverb that means "just" or "only"
• 一人 - noun that means "a person" or "alone"
• で - particle that indicates the medium or instrument used to perform an action
• 山 - noun that means "mountain"
• に - particle that indicates the target or destination of an action
• 登った - verb in the past that means "to climb" or "to scale"

トップに立つ人は責任が大きいです。

Toppu ni tatsu hito wa sekinin ga ookii desu

The person at the top is responsible.

• トップに立つ人 - person at the top
• は - Topic particle
• 責任 - responsibility
• が - subject particle
• 大きい - large
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

プラットホームには多くの人がいます。

Plattafōmu ni wa ōku no hito ga imasu

There are many people on the platform.

• プラットホーム (purattohōmu) - platform
• には (niwa) - in
• 多くの (ōku no) - Many
• 人 (hito) - people
• が (ga) - subject
• います (imasu) - Present

ヤングは若い人たちを表します。

Yangu wa wakai hitotachi wo hyō shimasu

Young represents young people.

• ヤング - Japanese word meaning "young"
• は - particle in Japanese that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 若い - Japanese adjective meaning "young"
• 人たち - suffix in Japanese that indicates plurality, meaning "people"
• を - Direct object particle in Japanese.
• 表します - Japanese verb meaning "represents"

ユーモアは人生を楽しくする力です。

Yūmō wa jinsei o tanoshiku suru chikara desu

Humor is the power to make life fun.

• ユーモア - 言葉は「ユーモア」です。
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 人生 - A palavra em japonês que significa "vida" é "生命" (seimei).
• を - Direct object particle in Japanese.
• 楽しくする - 動かす (ugokasu)
• 力 - A palavra em japonês que significa "força" ou "poder" é 力 (chikara).
• です - verb in Japanese that indicates the polite form of the present

ロビーにはたくさんの人がいます。

Robī ni wa takusan no hito ga imasu

There are many people in the lobby.

• ロビー (Róbii) - Lobby
• には (niwa) - in
• たくさんの (takusan no) - Many
• 人 (hito) - people
• が (ga) - are
• います (imasu) - Present (polite form) of the verb "to be"

一人で行く。

Hitori de iku

I go alone.

Go alone.

• 一人 - means "alone" or "alone" (feminine).
• で - is a particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done. In this case, it indicates that the person is going alone.
• 行く - means "to go".

一人でには寂しいです。

Hitori de ni wa sabishii desu

It's lonely being alone.

I'm alone alone.

• 一人でには - alone
• 寂しい - lonely
• です - is